Hoist attachment for ladders



Feb. 5, 1946. c E I I 2,394,148

HOIST ATTACHMENT FOR LADDERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 7, 1944 INVENTOR. 7 13/2; 6a

Feb. 5,1946.

H. L. QAMPBELL HQIST ATTACHMENT FOR LADDERS sheets-sheep 2 llll lllll .l|||||| Filed Aug. 7, 1944 INVENTORZa 0,77" by BY K Y Y llllllllllllllllll 2 1 a; Z w

Feb. 5, 1946.' H. L. CAMPBELL HOIST ATTACHMENT FOR LADDERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 7, 1944 if 5-? 5 3 f Patented Feb. 5, 1946 UNITED STA ES PATENT *O E fc 2,394,148 7 nors'r ATTACHMENT FOB LADDERS Harry LCampbell, Wilmette, n1. Applicationeu g usti, 1944,;se is1 ne sisaoz 7 10 Claims. (Cl..214"103).

The present invention relates enerally to ladders, but more particularly to a hoist .ora material conveying and elevating attachment for extension ladders. r I

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to providea novel, improved andsimplified construction. of a hoist or. material conveying and elevating mechanism in the form of an attachment for an extension type ladder whereby the material, such for example-as roofing material or building material, may be elevated from the ground and conveyed over the ladder sections to anelevated position suchas a roof of a building, and disohargedfrom the carrier at the upper end of the ladder section-by the-operator on the ground. V

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction of a conveying and elevating attachment for an extension ladder whereby the material conveyed and elevated thereby may be effectively elevated and discharged to the upper end thereof by an operator on the ground. I M l v a a A still further object of the invention -is-to provide a novel and improved material elevating and conveying mechanism in the form of an at-- tachment for an extension ladder which includes a novel form of carriage orcontainer adapted to be elevated into a position so that when it reaches the upper end of the ladder extension, the. material conveyed thereon may be removed or discharged, after which the carrier may be returned to its lower or groundposition by a single operator on the ground. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved form of material elevating and conveying attachment for extension ladders which-includes a form of a switch and a bridge for guidingthe wheels of the carriage between and over the ladder sections.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing a construction and an arrangement of the various parts-in the manner hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the conventional .form of a two section extension ladder having my improved material elevating and conveying mechanism mounted thereon; V Fig.2 is an enlargedsfragmentary view showing the upper part of my improved attachment and illustrating the manner in which the carriage comes to a stop upon reachingthe upper end of its travel;

Fig. 3 is a substantially. planned view-taken on the line. 33 in Fig. 1; I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged'top plan View. taken on the line 4-4 inFig..2; I

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the lineJ5- 5 in'Fig. 1;

Fig". Bis an enlarged fragmentary and side ale vational view showing the form of bridge which permits .the carriage to pass over. the bracket between the. two ladder sections; and

.Fig'. .Tis across sectional-view taken on the line; 1-1 inFig. 6. y

In illustrating one form of my invention, 1 have shownthe same in connection with a conventional form of extension ladder which com prises amain or lower section l0 and an upper section or extension I I. The lower section [0 of the ladder comprisestwo oppositely disposed and spaced apart parallel side rails or beams 12 which support uniformly. spaced. apartstepsor rungsel3. The upper or extension section ,llsimilarly comprises oppositely disposed parallel arranged. guide rails'orv beams [4 which in turn support the uniformly spaced apart rungs 15. The upper section or extension H .is of anarrow er width than theloweror main section so; that the side rails I4 thereof are normally located inwardly of the side rails 12 of the main section 4 Ill so that the upper section may. slide orbea/dfjusted with respect. to the lower section. The extension Jil is guidedwith respect to theflower section by means of. the 'usual guidebracket .I B which has its opposite ends secured tothe opposite rails 12 of the main section l0 adjacent. the upper ends thereof.. The lower'ends ofthe side rails or beams l 4 of the extension H are. provided With the usual locking hooks; (not shown) for supporting the upper section in various positions of adjustment with respect .to the lower section. The construction thus far d'escribedis the conventional form'of an extension ladder. v

My improved attachment for elevating, oonveying'and discharging material which is adapted to befattached to a conventional form of extension ladder includes-inverted T-like wheel tracks I! secured to the front'surfaces of the side rails IQ of thelower section and extend throughout the length of each of these side rails- 12. Se} 7 curedto the front surfaces of the side rails of the upper" section H are similarly inverted T-like wheeltracks J8; Mounted on the t'racks is a material elevating and conveying carrier or carriage, generally indicated by 'the' reference character IS." The carriage of, course, may asa' varietypf forms, but preferably includes a platform 20 having an angularly extending wall 2 I.

The platform 20 and wall 2| are mounted on two longitudinally extending main frame members 22 which are reinforced by angle members'22'. Secured to the rear ends of the main frame members 2? are front and rear shafts or axles 23 and 24 respectively. J ournaled on the shafts 23 and 24 are peripherally grooved carry- I ing wheels or pulleys 25. These wheels 25 are adapted it'o en age the tracks I! j and" I B V of the respective ladder sections. The wheels 25 are freely slidable upon the shafts, so as to move 7 inwardly or outwardly to ,accommodate themselves to the varying width of the tracks on the respective ladder sections. In order to permit the a carriage I9 and the respective carrying wheels 25 to transfer the wider track section to the nar-.-- rower track section or vice versa, switches are interposed between the upper and lower ladder sections to accomplish this function, These switches include angle members .26 which are attachedto the lower ends of thej'tracks I8 of the upper ladder section'II. The vertical portions occupying the longitudinal center between the ladder sections. The inner ends of these bars' extend parallel and form a pulley bracket as shown at 42, and having journaled therein a. 'pulley43. The converging bars III of the arm 38 are reinforced, and braced by diagonally cross- I ing bars 44 which have their inner ends jourof the angle members 26 adjacent the upper ends thereof lay contiguous to and injalignment withthe vertical portions of thelT shaped'tracks and; thelower, portion of the angle members 26 'arefdisposed angularly so that their lower ends 1 lay. contiguous, to and in alignment with the ref spective lower tracksil 1 ion the lower ladder sectioni IIL'Z The switches" obviously permit the grooved wheels to transferfrom the wider .rail I! to .the narrower rail I8 or vice versa. In

this connection itwill be noted that when the carriage is, traveling over these switches, the wheels move inwardly or outwardly. with respect totheir. respective shafts so as to accommodate the wheels to the varying spacing of the different tracksections. 1 v a 1' In order to permit the carriage to cross the bracket I Gbetween the ladder sections, I have provideda novel type of bridge in the form of'an arch member indicatedby the reference character 21. The bridges 2! have cut-outs or recesses as shown at 28 which are complementary to the front portions of the bracket I5. .The bridges 21 are held in' position" by-oppositely-idisposed angle jnembers 29 which' arewelded to the opposite.

sides offthe bridgemembe'rs 21 and are, in turn, bolted by'me'ans of .bolts.30 to the bracket mem-j ber I6. 'I'hese bridges are further held from dis-j placement with respect .to the tracks I8 by side olipsLil'I which are secured tothe bridge members 7 .andfrictionally,attached to the rails I8 as clearly shown inFig. 6 of the drawings.

'In order'to discharge the material from the carriage when the carriage reaches the upper end of the ladder extension, I have provided a track .extensionframe in the form of arcuate or curved track extensions' 32.which are .in the form of angle members and form continuations of the tracks I8.; These arcuate track, extensions 52 are secured to theupper end of the side rails I4 ofthe extension II by a transverse angle member .33. The outer orfree ends of the tracks are held in spaced relation with respect to each other by i r a transverse brace or angle member 34. The arcuate track sections are further reinforced and supported by angularly extending bars 35 which have their upper ends; connected to the arcuate tracks as shown at 36 and their lower ends as shown at 3'Ito the upper ends .of the opposite side rails .I4'of the ladder extension II-.

46. The carriage is elevated through the medium of a cable and winch mechanism. Thecable indicatedat '41, which has one end connected to {the forward end'of the. carriage I9 is shown at 48. The cableflext'ends from the carriage and is trained aboutthe pulley 43 carried by the arm 38. Fromfthis'point the cable istrained about a second pulley 49" journaled in "the bracket 50 secured to the transverse angle member .34. From this point the cable istrained about a third pulley 5I.' The pulley 5I is journaled in a bracket 52 secured to a transverse angle member 53. The transverse angle member 53 has its opposite ends secured to the opposite braces or bars 35. The cable 41 extends from :the'pulley 5I below the rungs I5 of the upper ladder section and above the rungs I3 of the lower ladder sectionto a winding drum'54. The drum 54 is secured to a shaft 55. The shaft 551s 'jou'rn aled in opposite bearing brackets 56 secured to the rear side of the lower siderails I2, as clearl shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Secured to one end of the shaft 55 is a hand operating crankindicated by the reference character 51. The shaft is'prevented from dis-- placement with respect toitsbearing brackets 56 by a collar 58 secured to the shaft;

In Figs. land 2 of the drawings, my invention .is disclosed as being employed in connection with an extension ladder leaning ata suitable angle and to prevent the carriage from beingdisplaeed from the tracks at this p oint,'l have provided oppositely disposed, substantiallyU- shaped stops as shown at 60' which are secured to the-lower flanges of therespective arcuate trackis 32 so that the upper arms fcf itlriestopsjll engage the front axle or shaft'23'of the carriage." ln ordergtopre vent the rear end oftheearriagefromdisplacement with respect to the tracks; I. have provided two additional stops as shown at BI which are In order to-guidela hoisting cable as the carriage conveyed around the arcuate tracks at the top ereti@nea mhse e l bra 5 The angle bracket '6 2is secured to the opposite main frame members 2291i thefcarriage I9. The opposite ends of the stopangle 62 are secured to ev r. was P th arm i a k 32f s clearly shown in Fig ;2 of the drawings, It will be obviously seen that "as the carriagejtogeth er with the material carried thereon, reachesthe' upper end of its travelonthe arcuate tracks','the shaft23 ofthe carriage engages thest'ops 60: 'and simultaneously the transverse angle'member 62 engages the opposite'stops iii to prevent further movement forward of the carriage withrespect'to the "tracks and prevents 'thedisplacement of the carriage from the tracks sothat the. material thereon may be discharged therefrom before. the carriage is returnedto its lowermost position.

In order tofacilitatevthe return of. the carriage from the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, .to the inclined tracks on the upper ladder section, I have provided an extension spring generally indicated byithe reference character 63 whichlhas' one end thereof connected as shown at tova transverse angle 6.5. The opposite ends of thetransverse angle 65are secured to theinner ends of the opposite cross bars 44. .The other end=of thespring fiiis'connectedas shown at. to thetransverse angle member;53.

From the above description it will be obvious that as the cable 41 is unwound from the winding drum 54 by the manipulation of the crank 51, the tension on the spring 63 will actuate the arm 38 to force the carriage l9 rearwardly about the arcuate tracks, 32 until it returns to the inclined portion of the upper track section, from there it will belowered by gravityto the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. In this connection it will also be noted that the swinging arm will stop at the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings by reason of the arm 38 striking a stop or transverse bar 61 securedadjacent the lower endv of the arcuate tracksections 32.

Summarizing the functions and-advantages of my improved hoisting or material elevating and conveying attachment for an extension ladder, it will be readily seen that by providing tracks for the side rails for an extension ladder and providing switches between these different width tracks on the respective ladder sections .and bridges to convey the carriage across the inner connecting ladder bracket and permitting the wheels of the carriage to slide axially of their respective shafts, I. have afforded a very simple elevating and conveyingmechanism which can be easily and readily attached to extension ladders. In this connection it will also be noted that by providing an arcuate track extension to the upper ladder section together with the pivoted arm for guiding the cable and carriage about the arcuate tracks and the return of the carriage after the load has been discharged so that all these functions may be performed by a single operator on the ground, the labor and time heretofore required to perform these functions has been reduced to a minimum.

While in the above specification I have described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will, of course, be understood that the same is capable of modification and that modification may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with an extension ladder having a main section and an adjustable extension section, of tracks carried by said sections, a movable carriage mounted on said tracks, arcuate tracks secured to the upp r end of said extension section, a pulley mounted adjacent the upper end of said extension, a cable having one end connected to said carriage and trained about said pulley, a winch mounted on said main secable with said carriage meanslforguidingaaportion of :said cable during the movement of said carriage. over said "arcuate. tracks.

2. The combination with an "extension wladder having amain sectionand' an adjustable extension section, of trackscarried by 'said. sections, a movable carriage mounted con saidtracks, arcuate tracks secured to the upper end of said extension section, a :pulley mounted adjacent the upper end of said extensipn,ya cable-having one end connected to saidcarriage and trained about said pulley, a winch mounted 'on said ;main :section and connected to the:.other 'endiofisaid cable, means adapted to beengaged by said. carriage for guiding a. portion of'said cable duringthe movement. of said carriage. over .said' arcuate tracks, and means carried by saidxarcuatertracks and engageable withvsaid carriage forstoppinz said carriage adjacent thexend of said arcuate tracks.

3. The combination withan extension ladder section and operatively connected to the other end of said cable.

4. The combination with an-extension ladder having a main section and an extension section adjustably mounted on said mainsection, of tracks extending longitudinally of each of said sections, switches located between the'tracks of the respective sections, a traveling carriage mounted on said tracks, a supplemental track frame mounted on the upper end of saidextension section, arcuate tracks carried by said frame and forming a continuation of the tracks on said extension section, a swinging arm pivoted to said frame, a pulley journaled on the free end of said arm, a second pulley journaled adjacentthe outer end of said'frame, a thirdpulley journaled' adjacent the upper end of saidladd'er extension, a cable having one end secured to said carriage and trained about all of saidpulleys, and a winch carried by said main section and operatively connected to the other end of said cable.

5. The combination with an extension ladder having a main section and an extension section adjustably mounted on said main section, of tracks extending longitudinally of each of said sections, switches located between the tracks of the respective sections, a traveling carriage mounted on said tracks, a supplemental track frame mounted on the upper end of said extension section, arcuate tracks carried by said frame and forming a continuation of the tracks on said tion and' -cdnnscted 'to .the...other end M -said cable, and located inthe .pathxof and 'sengage! extensionsection, a swinging arm-pivotedto said frame, means vfor limiting the pivotal movement of's'aid armwith respect to said frame, a spring having'one end connected to said "arm. and the Y otherxend connected to said frame for actuating said carriage on the return travel, over said arouatetracks, a..pulley journaled-onthe 'free end ofsaid. arm, a second pulleyjournaled adjacent the outer end of said frame, a third pulleyjournaled adjacent the upper end of said ladderextension, a cable having one endsecured to. said carriage and trained aboutall of said pulleys,

' and a winch carried by saidmain section and operatively'connected to the other'end oi said cable. i' V Q7. The combination with an. extension, ladder having a main :ladder section and a relatively i narrower ladderextension section slidably; connected therewith, a bracket secured to the upper end of said main section; and embracing said extension section, tracks mounted on the respective ladder sections, track members secured to and bridging said bracket, switch track members con: necting the respective tracks of said ladder sections, a traveling carriage mounted on said tracks,

a pulley journaled adjacent the upper end of pulleyand having one end connected to said car-I- riage', and a Winch mounted on said main section and operatively' connected to the other end of said cable. r V

a 8. The combinationwith an extension ladder having a main ladder section andv a relatively narrower ladder extension sectionslidably con,- nected therewith, abracket securedto the upper end j of'said mainsection and embracing said extension section, tracks mounted on the'respective ladder sections, track members secured to and bridging said bracket, switch track members connecting therespective tracksof said ladder sections, a. traveling carriage mounted on said tracks, arcuatetracks in the formof a'frame connected-to "the, upper extension section, a swinging:arm;.pivoted to, said frame, a pulley journaled on the free end of said arm, a secondpulley journaledon said frame, a cablertrain'ed about said pulleys having one end connected to said carwage; and a winch mounted on-said mainsection: and operatively connected to the other end of saidcable. a

9. ,Th'e'combination with an extension ladder having. "a main laddersection and a relatively narrower"l'adder -extension slidably connected therewith; a bracket secured to the upper end ofsaid main section and embracing said extension section, tracks mounted on the respective ladder sections, track members: secured to and bridging said bracket, switch track members connecting the respective'tracks of said ladder sections, .a' travelling 'carriage mountedon said tracks; arcuate'tracks; intthe for-m ofna-frame secured to said extension section, a swinging'arm pivoted to' said frame, a pulley journaled onfthe free end of said arm, means for limiting the pivotal movement of said arm, means for stopping the" movement ofsaid carriage at :the end of said frame, a spring'for 'normally returning said arm andcarriage over said arcuate track, a cable trained about said pulleys and having one end connectedto'said carriage, and a winch mounted on said main section and operativelyconnected {to the other end 'of said cable.-

10. The combination with an extension ladder having a main ladder section and 'a relatively narrower ladder extension section slidably connected therewith,- a bracket'secured to the upper end of said main section and embracing said extension section, tracks mounted on the respective ladder sections, track'members secured to and said extension section, a cable, trained about said? bridging said'brac'ket', switch track members'con necting the respective tracks of 'said ladder sections'; a "travelingcarriage mounted on said tracks, arcua'te tracks in the form of a frame secured to said extension section, a swinging arm piv 'ote'd'to said frame, a pulley journaled on the free end of said arm, means for limitingthe pivotal movement of said arm,'means for stopping the movement of said carriage at the end of said name; spring fornor'mally returning said arm and'carriage over said arcuate track, a cable trained 'about'said' pulleys and having one end connected to saido'arriage, a winch mountedon said'main section and ope'ratively. connected to the other end of'said cable, and means for preventing t'hddispl'acement of; said carriage from V the arcu'ate'tracks at its uppermost position.

' HARRY L. CAMPBELLQ 3 

